The Biggest Loser keys in on the diligence and self-control of the contestants; the core of Survivor is team dynamics; and the central theme of The Amazing Race is decision making under pressure. The RACE is a wonderful reality show that reveals so many lessons in leadership as immense tension and anxiety are placed upon the teams in their efforts to finish the race in first place. The first three episodes of this season have eliminated three teams – all of which made critical errors in navigating the adventure.
Even in the initial leg of this race around the world, teams were faced with huge decisions that determined their effectiveness. Three keys, that seem to surface in just about every episode, reigned supreme in this premiere installment: 1) the awareness of one's surroundings, 2) specific attention to details, and 3) the correct interpretation of clues. All three of these elements are integral to good decision making within an organization.
The team that lost this first leg of the race and found themselves eliminated so quickly, had the finish line within their line of sight, but failed to look in the right direction. Instead, they turned their backs on the goal line and walked away from victory. The host of the show, Phil Keoghan, could see the contestants as they made the wrong decision and left the area only a stone's throw away from the pit stop.
Attention to detail cost several teams valuable time in the race. At one juncture in the game, each team had to make 120 empanada. However, several teams missed the detail that there were two distinct kinds of empanada to be made (60 of each) and each required a specific dough crimping pattern. After making 120 of the same kind, some couples realized that half of their effort was in vain. This same principle raised its ugly head during episode two when a very confused team failed to look at a picture on the side of the box while attempting to construct a solar dish – the picture was the only instructions provided in putting this project together.
Accurate interpretation of the directions of the game is critical for success. One team failed to bring their bags to a task - they left them at the taxi location. After completing the final challenge and getting the instruction to find the pit stop on foot, this team had to retrace their steps back to the taxi and gather their bags, losing valuable time.
In addition to these three keys to success in The Amazing Race, one underlying principle enables some teams to rise to the surface of victory: the ability to maintain a sense of calm in the midst of great pressure and deep frustration. Keeping your cool under unforeseeable circumstances can be the difference between victory and defeat. Episode two involved a bus breakdown moving several teams from the middle of the pack to the last group of players. It was interesting to see the reaction of the different teams (from panic to patience) as each dealt uniquely with a curve ball from left field.
Maintaining control under the pressure of the race is by far the most interesting part of this show for me. Pressure does not build character – it reveals character. The pressures of the game often cause team members to yell at each other, cry in frustration, enter into times of panic as they lose perspective, and become overwhelmed with despair and discouragement. The self-imposed pressure to complete the road block, to solve the clues, to get ahead, and to finish first sometimes derails a team to the point of tears, or anger or even giving up.
Episode three presented teams with two very difficult challenges to choose from – stringing a harp or stacking 100 watermelons. Many of the teams struggled at accomplishing the task they had chosen and had to decide if they wanted to switch tasks and try the alternative challenge. Emotions ran high as teams struggled to know when to persevere and when to change activities.
So many of these concepts have lessons for today's leaders. First, being keenly aware of the environment, paying close attention to the details of the organization, and interpreting the clues to success that are all around us are certainly important aspects to providing effective leadership. Second, maintaining control and keeping a cool head in the midst of pressure often defines a leader's impact – avoiding panic, frustration, and anger enables a leader to sustain proper balance and a positive perspective on the priorities of the mission. Third, the ability to rest and relax in the middle of a situation that is out of one's control, provides a leader with an advantage over those who fret or worry or try to fix someone else's problem with an irrelevant solution.
No comments:
Post a Comment